Pontotoc County District Attorney Bill Peterson and Gary Rogers, a former agent for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation filed the libel lawsuit.
The lawsuit, seeks at least $75,000 compensation and demands a jury trial. Peterson and Rogers were instrumental in the conviction of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz in the murder of Debbie Sue Carter in Ada, Oklahoma in 1982. The conviction was later overturned on DNA evidence pursued by the Innocence Project, which Scheck heads, Dennis Fritz was wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit and spent 12 years in prison. Part of the lawsuit claims the defendants conspired to commit libel against the plaintiffs, generate publicity for self interest by placing them in a false light and intentionally inflicting emotional distress upon them.
So... Prosecutor with the help of Gary Rogers sent 2 innocent men, Dennis Fritz and Ron Williamson to prison for 12 years. Both Innocent men freed by DNA evaluation of crime scene evidence. Innocent man, Dennis Fritz writes book about his experiences. Prosecutor and Gary Rogers sue the innocent man they wrongfully sent to prison and Prosecutor and Rogers sue for intentionally inflicting emotional distress upon them. Only in America Folks...
UPDATE SEPT 18th, 2008 Federal Judge Dismisses Libel Lawsuit Against John Grisham
UPDATE OCT. 2008
This story is just unbelievable. A libel lawsuit against Dennis Fritz, author of Journey Toward Justice and author, John Grisham headed to court of appeals
Read more Here
9 comments:
I hope they make Peterson pay for all the court costs after he loses this case.
Peterson and the former OSBI officer are so wrong. I am aware of the "Redneck" Oklahoma Justice that Ada and Seminole Oklahoma has that runs deep in the DA;s and Sheriff's office. I hope that the suit is dimissed. Best of Luck on your Book and the Suit.
I am in the middle of reading The Innocent Man and I can not believe that someone such as Bill Peterson who takes an oath would blatantly lie just to win a case. I think everything that the state of Oaklahoma did to both of these men, Ron and Dennis, is sick and everyone who works for the state should be ashamed of themselves.
Bill Peterson and Gary Rogers will find, eventually, the truth within themselves. In the interim, it appears they need the help of a judge to find it.
If this is the way Justice works in America - I'm really glad I live in Canada.
Remind me never to visit rural Oklahoma. I might get pulled over for picking my nose and end up in prison for 10 frickin years. And while you're at it, remind me to never talk about my (wet) dreams with anyone. I might end up on frickin death row! After reading Grisham's book I wanted to go postal. There's NO WAY that crap like that should EVER happen in America.
This man has shattered lives and I CANNOT believe he was allowed to stay in office. I hope like hell that the defendants do not roll and pay to avoid the defense cost. They need to counter-sue and have them pay their costs. Freedom of speech brother. All they did was tell the truth, something he Peterson apparently knows nothing about. He will meet him maker in the end. What is truly unforgivable is that he never apologized after faced with clear evidence of their innocence. He instead continued to torment them.
I cannot believe that these men, Bill Peterson, Gary Rogers can sleep easy in their beds. They have wreaked havoc on so many families and their lives, not to mention those of the victims in the matters of Dennis Fritz, Ron Williamson, Tommy Ward and Karl Fonenot. I wonder if they have ever spared a thought that the real killer(s) may have gone on to kill again, but then that would show them up for the spineless incompetents that they are. What a terrible legacy these two individuals have left their own families.
If anyone caused emotional distress it is Bill Peterson and Gary Rogers. I am reading "The Innocent Man" and can not believe how any jury could convict Dennis and Ron on such BS, this is a big case of injustice. My heart goes out to everyone that is affected by this miscarriage of Justice. How can this happen in the US, it scares me to death.
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